For review purposes, please submit a PDF with all the elements of the manuscript (abstract, text, footnotes [not endnotes], references, figure captions, and figures) in one file that can be sent out over email. Please also submit a separate Word doc file that contains only an abstract of 100 words or less and a cover letter that specifies the authors of the submitted manuscript, their affiliations, and any other scholars who have read the manuscript. In some cases we may also ask for a hard copy of the manuscript to be mailed to our office. Please download the Checklist for Initial Submission (PDF) and submit it with your manuscript. Although we do not insist that authors conform to our house style when initially submitting their manuscripts for review, you may find our Author Guidelines (PDF) useful. Please do not submit original artwork at this stage.

Manuscripts that are primary reports on material from excavations conducted under School auspices should be accompanied by a written recommendation from the appropriate field director. To the extent possible, manuscripts should be prepared in such a way as to maintain the anonymity of the author. Articles longer than 76 (published) pages will generally not be considered. To estimate the published length of a manuscript, assume ca. 600 words per printed Hesperia page and then add pages as needed for illustrations.

Copies of the manuscript are sent to two outside referees. The review process normally takes three to four months. After the reviews are received, authors are advised of the Editor’s decision to accept, reject, or request changes to the article, and of the substance of the referees’ comments. In the case of conflicting reviews, the Editor will usually solicit a third review (this may add time to the review process).